Haiti

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CountryHaiti
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice and Public Security
Prison administration
Direction de l'Administration Pénitentiaire (DAP)
Contact address
# 1, Impasse Richard Jules, Delmas 75, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telephone
+509 31 70 9487
Head of prison administration (and title)
Pierre René François
Directeur
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
11 778
at 4.1.2024 (via UN Integrated Office in Haiti, BINUH)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
99
based on an estimated national population of 11.89 million at beginning of January 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
84.6%
(30.6.2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.5%
(4.1.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.3%
(1.9.2021 - under 18)
Number of establishments / institutions
17
(2015)
Official capacity of prison system
3 900
(4.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
302.0%
(4.1.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 4,219 49
2002 c 3,600 c 41
2004 1,941 21
2006 4,663 49
2008 8,204 83
2010 5,331 53
2012 8,722 84
2014 10,461 98
2016 10,538 97
2018 11,650 105
2020 10,708 94
2000 4,219 49
2002 c 3,600 c 41
2004 1,941 21
2006 4,663 49
2008 8,204 83
2010 5,331 53
2012 8,722 84
2014 10,461 98
2016 10,538 97
2018 11,650 105
2020 10,708 94

Pages

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                   HAITI

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2005
2007
2010
2015

3,055
3,253
5,314
3,609
7,827

83.5%
88.6%
83.4%
67.7%
70.9%

36
35
55
37
73

2023

9,987

84.6%

84

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                        HAITI

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2003
2006
2010
2015

116
248
440
456

3.3%
6.6%
8.6%
4.1%

1.3
2.6
4.4
4.2

2024

413

3.5%

3.5

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate